Bidirectional aseptic volume filler and valve for this filler

Abstract: The invention provides a series of bi-directional aseptic volume filler cylinders (22), that are able to provide measured volume fillers as the piston (25) is driven in both directions by providing an aseptic disk valve (34) which is able to direct material in the desired directions. Both sides of the chamber are able to draw material from a single passage (29,31) and out put material to a single passage (30,32).

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for providing a measured volume of material, a valve suitable for such an apparatus and a method of dispensing measured volumes of material. DE-C-823 555 discloses a multiway-valve construction in particular for the use in pressure air brake arrangements, door closing devices and pressure air wipers having at least three connecting channels and a pressure fluid passage. From the channels transverse bores extend to a slide valve face. The transverse bore for guiding the inflowing pressure fluid is provided on the slide valve axis whereas the other bores are provided on a circle line which is concentric to this axis. The slide valve face in turn has a circle segment groove and a radial control groove starting from the center thereof. Accordingly it is possible to establish different connections between the transverse bores in dependence from the particular position of the valve disk in regard to the bore housing. From DE-U-88 08 143 an apparatus for portioned filling liquids of different viscosities into packages is known. A piston is reciprocating within a chamber having a common inlet and a common outlet communicating with each other. In dependence of the motion direction of the piston a corresponding section line provides an associated output line with a specific material volume. The invention provides a bi-directional asseptic volume filler apparatus which is sterilizable and CIP able and which provides a predetermined volume of material as a piston moves in either direction during its stroke. The invention provides a valve as defined in claim 1, and an apparatus as characterized in claim 2. The features of the inventive method for dispensing measured material volumes are mentioned in claim 6. Further advantageous developments are included in the dependent claims. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filler comprising a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts cut away of the filler in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top view of the filler in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section taken along lines 4 - 4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a section taken along lines 5 - 5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a section taken along lines 6 - 6 of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a section taken along lines 7 - 7 of Figure 4. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the valve switching means and driver forming part of the valve shown in Figure 4. Figure 9 is a section taken along lines 9 - 9 of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a section taken along lines 10 - 10 of Figure 4. Figure 11 is a section taken along lines 11 - 11 of Figure 4. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a filler 20 using a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the filler 20 with parts cut away. Figure 3 is a top view of the filler 20. In the preferred embodiment, the filler 20 comprises a single vessel 21 with four cylindrical chambers 22. The center axis of the cylindrical chambers 22 are coaxial. A piston rod 24 runs along the center axis of the cylindrical chambers 22. In each chamber 22 is a piston 25 mechanically connected to the piston rod 24. Welding may be used to mechanically connect the piston 25 to the piston rod 24. Mechanically connected to a first end of the piston rod 24 is a piston rod driving means 26, which causes the piston rod 24 to reciprocate along the center axis of the cylindrical chambers 22 as shown by the double headed arrow in Figure 2. In this embodiment piston rod air lines 27 are used to drive the piston rod driving means 26. Each chamber 22 has a first side, which is closer to the piston rod driving means 26 and a second side which is further from the piston rod driving means 26. Each first side of each chamber has a first side intake tube 29 and a first side output tube 30. Each second side of each chamber has a second side intake tube 31 and a second side output tube 32. Each intake tube 29, 31 and each output tube 30, 32 has a first end connected to a chamber 22 and a second end connected to a valve 34, which will be described in more detail below. As shown in Figure 2, the filler 20 comprises four valves 34, with one valve 34 for each cylindrical chamber 22. For a set of a first side intake tube 29, a first side output tube 30, a second side intake tube 31, and a second side output tube 32, where the first sides of the set of a first side intake tube 29, a first side output tube 30, a second side intake tube 31, and a second side output tube 32 are all connected to the same cylindrical chamber 22, the second sides of the set of the first side intake tube 29, the first side output tube 30, the second side intake tube 31, and the second side output tube 32 are all connected to the same valve 34. Figure 4 is a section of a valve 34, as shown in Figure 2 by lines 4 - 4. Figure 5 is a section of the valve 34 in Figure 4 taken along lines 5 - 5. Figure 6 is a section of the valve 34 in Figure 4 taken along lines 6 - 6. Figure 7 is a section of the valve 34 in Figure 4 taken along lines 7 - 7. As mentioned before, connected to the valve 34 are second ends of a first side intake tube 29, a first side output tube 30, a second side intake tube 31, and a second side output tube 32. The valve 34 comprises a passage housing 35 with a plurality of passages, a disk housing 45, and a disk 46. The second end of the first side intake tube 29 is in fluid connection with a first side of a first passage 37. In the specification, when it is stated that one object is in fluid connection with another, it is defined as meaning that fluid is able to pass from the one object to the other. The second end of the first side output tube 30 is in fluid connection with a first side of a second passage 38. The second end of the second side intake tube 31 is in fluid connection with a first side of a third passage 39. The second end of the second side output tube 32 is in fluid connection with a first side of a fourth passage 40. A fifth passage 41 is in fluid connection with an intake source, not shown. A sixth passage 42 is in fluid connection with an output volume, not shown. The disk 46 is placed in the disk housing 45 adjacent to the passage housing 35, and is illustrated in Figures 7 - 9. A circular face 47, with a center, of the disk 46 is adjacent to the passage housing 35. In the preferred embodiment, a first end of the fifth passage 41 is adjacent to the center of the circular face 47 The second end of the first passage 37 and the second end of the third passage 39 are spaced equal distances from the center of the circular face 47 and adjacent to the circular face 47. In addition, the center of the second end of the first passage 37 and the second end of the third passage 39 form an angle a=90° with the center of the circular face 47. The second end of the second passage 38 the second end of the fourth passage 40, and the first end of the sixth passage 42 are all equal distances from the center of the circular face 47 and adjacent to the circular face 47. The second end of the second passage 38 and the first end of the sixth passage 42 form an angle b=90° with the center of the circular face 47. The second end of the fourth passage 40 and the first end of the sixth passage 42 form an angle c=90° with the center of the circular face 47. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the disk 46 and a disk driver 49. Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the disk 46 shown in Figure 8 along lines 9 - 9. The circular face 47 of the disk 46 has a first groove 51 and a second groove 52. In the preferred embodiment, the first groove 51 is linear and extends from the center of the circular face 47 to a distance approximately equal to the distance that the second ends of the first passage 37 and the third passage 39 are from the center of the circular face 47, so that the first groove 51 forms a passage from the fifth passage 41 to either the first passage 37 or the third passage 39. The second groove 52 forms an arc, wherein the arc is spaced a distance from the center of the circular face 47 equal to the distance that the second ends of the second passage 38, fourth passage 40 and the first end of the sixth passage 42 are from the center of the circular face 47, so that the second groove 52 forms a passage between the first end of the sixth passage 42 and the second end of the second passage 38 or the second end of the fourth passage 40. On the side of the disk 46 opposite from the circular face 47 are a parr of holes 54, which match with a pair of pegs 55 on the disk driver 49 to provide positive engagement between the disk driver 49 and the disk 46. Figure 10 is a section of the valve 34 shown in Figure 4 along lines 10 - 10. A face plate 54 forms a side of the disk housing 45. The disk driver 49 extends through the face plate 54 as a shaft. A first air passage 56 and a second air passage 57 extend through the disk housing 45. The first air passage 56 and the second air passage 57 provide air to and vent air from the disk housing 45 to force the disk 46 against the passage housing 35 with a desired force. Figure 11 is a section of the valve shown in Figure 4 along lines 11 - 11. Within a driver housing 59, the disk driver 49, which extends into the driver housing 59, is keyed by a key 60 to a pinion 61. The pinion 61 is engaged with a rack 62. The rack 62 is also engaged to pinions 61 of the other valves 34. Mechanically connected to a first end of the rack 62 is a rack driving means 64, which causes the rack 62 to reciprocate as shown by the double headed arrow in Figure 2. In this embodiment rack air lines 65 are used to drive the rack driving means 64. In operation in this example first, air through rack air lines 65 cause the rack driving means 64 to reciprocate the rack 62 to the right as viewed in Figure 2. The rack 62 rotates the pinions 61 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11. The rotation of the pinions 61 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11 would rotate the disk driver and disk in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8, which would be a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 6 and 7, since Figures 6 and 7 are viewed from the opposite direction than Figures 8 and 11. When the rack 62 is completely reciprocated to the right, the first groove 51 extends from the second end of the first passage 37 to the first end of the fifth passage 41, forming a passage from the second end of the first passage 37 to the first end of the fifth passage 41. The second groove 52 extends from the second end of the fourth passage 40 to the first end of the sixth passage 42, so that the second groove 52 forms a passage from the second end of the fourth passage 40 to the first end of the sixth passage 42. Air pressure is provided by the first and second air passages 56, 57 to press the disk 46 against the passage housing 35. The piston rod air lines 27 cause the piston rod driving means 26 to drive the piston rod 24 to the left as viewed in Figures 1 to 3. The piston rod 24 drives the pistons 25 to the left as viewed in Figure 2, which causes the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25 to increase and the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25 to decrease. Since the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25 are increasing, material must be provided to the volumes on the first side of the pistons. The material may pass through either first side intake tubes 29 or first side output tubes 30. Since the first side output tubes 30 are connected to the first ends of the second passages 38 and the second sides of the second passages 38 are not adjacent to the second grooves 52 and therefore are adjacent to the circular faces 47 of the disks, material cannot be provided to the volume from the first side output tubes 30. On the other hand, the first side intake tubes 29 are connected to the first ends of the first passages 37, which are adjacent to the first grooves 51 which form passages to the fifth passages 41, thus material under pressure is provided to the fifth passages 41 and passes from the fifth passages through the first grooves 51 through the first passages 37 through the first side intake tubes 29 into the volumes on the first sides of the pistons 25 Since the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25 are decreasing, material is pushed out of the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25. The material may pass through either second side intake tubes 31 or second side output tubes 32. Since the second side intake tubes 31 are connected to the first ends of the third passages 39 and the second sides of the third passages 39 are not adjacent to the first grooves 51 and therefore are adjacent to the circular faces 47 of the disks, material cannot pushed out of the volume from the second side intake tubes 31. On the other hand, the second side output tubes 32 are connected to the first ends of the fourth passages 40, which are adjacent to the second grooves 52 which form passages to the sixth passages 42, thus allowing material to pass from the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25 through the second side output tubes 32 through the fourth passages 40 through the second grooves 52 and through the sixth passages 42 out of the system. Next air through rack air lines 65 cause the rack driving means 64 to reciprocate the rack 62 completely to the left as viewed in Figure 2. The rack 62 rotates the pinions 61 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11. The rotation of the pinions 61 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11 would rotate the disk driver and disk in counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8, which would be a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 6 and 7, since Figures 6 and 7 are viewed from the opposite direction than Figures 8 and 11. When the rack 62 is completely reciprocated to the left, the first groove 51 extends from the second end of the third passage 39 to the first end of the fifth passage 41, forming a passage from the second end of the third passage 39 to the first end of the fifth passage 41. The second groove 52 extends from the second end of the second passage 38 to the first end of the sixth passage 42, so that the second groove 52 forms a passage from the second end of the second passage 38 to the first end of the sixth passage 42. The piston rod air lines 27 cause the piston rod driving means 26 to drive the piston rod 24 to the right as viewed in Figures 1 to 3. The piston rod 24 drives the pistons 25 to the right as viewed in Figure 2, which causes the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25 to decrease and the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25 to increase. Since the volumes on the second side of the pistons 25 are increasing, material is provided to the volumes on the first side of the pistons. The material may pass through either second side intake tubes 31 or second side output tubes 32. Since the second side output tubes 32 are connected to the first ends of the fourth passages 40 and the second sides of the fourth passages 40 are not adjacent to the second grooves 52 and therefore are adjacent to the circular faces 47 of the disks, material cannot be provided to the volumes from the second side output tubes 32. On the other hand, the second side intake tubes 31 are connected to the first ends of the third passages 39, which are adjacent to the first grooves 51 which form passages to the fifth passages 41, thus material under pressure is provided to the fifth passages 41, and from the fifth passages 41 passes through the first grooves 51 through the third passages 39 through the second side intake tubes 31 into the volumes on the second sides of the pistons 25 Since the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25 are decreasing, material is pushed out of the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25. The material may pass through either first side intake tubes 29 or first side output tubes 30. Since the first side intake tubes 29 are connected to the first ends of the first passages 37 and the second sides of the first passages 37 are not adjacent to the first grooves 51 and therefore are adjacent to the circular faces 47 of the disks 46, material cannot pushed out of the volume from the first side intake tubes 29. On the other hand, the first side output tubes 30 are connected to the first ends of the second passages 38, which are adjacent to the second grooves 52 which form passages to the sixth passages 42, thus allowing material to pass from the volumes on the first side of the pistons 25 through the first side output tubes 30 through the second passages 38 through the second grooves 52 and through the sixth passages 42 out of the system. Prior to the above filling operation, the filler is sterilized. This is achieved when following a cleaning regime where the piston rod 24 draws the pistons 25 completely to the right as viewed in Figure 2. The pistons 25 are adjacent to the first side intake tubes 29 and the first side out put tubes 30 where the cylindrical chambers 22 slightly widen. The parts of the piston rod 24 adjacent to dividers 15 between the cylindrical chambers are tapered slightly so that there is a gap between the piston rod 24 and seals 16 between the cylindrical chambers 22. In addition, air is vented through the second air passage 57, so that the disk 46 may be pushed away from the air housing. Steam is ported to the first air passage 56 to sterilize one side of the disk 46 and part of the disk housing. Steam is also provided to the second end of the fifth passage 41 and flows to the disk 46, pushing the disk 46 away from the passage housing 35 sterilizing the entire circular face 47 and part of the passage housing 35. The steam then flows through the first passages 37 and the third passages 39 and through the first side intake tube 29 and the second side intake tube 31 to the cylindrical chambers 22. Because of the tapers, the steam is able to flow all around the pistons 25 and the piston rod 24. The steam then flows through the first side out put tube 30 and the second side out put tube 32, through the second passage 38 and the fourth passage 40 to the disk 46 and through the sixth passage 42 out of the system. This process allows sterilization following a CIP (cleaning in place) operation, providing a bi-directional aseptic volume filler which is sterilizable and CIPable. Both sides of the chamber are able to receive material from a single passage and out put material to a single passage. As there is a common piston shaft. This system only requires steam tracing at both ends. In the specification and claims, the term "disk" includes any object with at least partially circular cross section. A cross section of a right cylinder, or a cone or a sphere could be a disk as defined in the specification and claims. In the preferred embodiment the disk is made of carbon such as graphite.

Claims: A valve, comprising: a valve housing, comprising a passage housing (35) with a first passage (37) with a first end and a second end, a second passage (38) with a first end and a second end, a third passage (39) with a first end and a second end, a fourth passage (40) with a first end and a second end, a fifth passage (41) with a first end and a second end, and a sixth passage (42) with a first end and a second end, and wherein the housing (35) has a housing face, wherein the second ends of the first passage (37), the second passage (38), the third passage (39), and the fourth passage (40) and the first ends of the fifth passage (41) and the sixth passage (42) terminate at the housing face; a disk (46) with a disk face (47) with a circular circumference and a center of the circular circumference, wherein the disk face (47) is adjacent to the housing face, and wherein the disk face (47) has a first groove (51) and a second groove (52), wherein the face (47) is adjacent to the passage housing (35) and the first and second grooves (51, 52) are on that face (47), wherein in a first rotating position of the disk the first groove (51) covers simultaneously and establishes fluid communication between the first end of the fifth passage (41) and the second end of the first passage (37) and the second groove (52) covers simultaneously and establishes fluid communication between the second end of the fourth passage (40) and the first end of the sixth passage (42), and in a second rotating position of the disk the first groove (51) covers simultaneously and establishes fluid communication between said first end of the fifth passage (41) and the second end of the third passage (39) and the second groove covers simultaneously and establishes fluid communication between the second end of the second passage (38) and said first end of the sixth passage (42), wherein the second ends of the first passage (37) and third passage (39) are equal distances from the center of the face (47) of the disk (46), and wherein the second ends of the second passage (38) and the fourth passage (40) and the first end of the sixth passage (42) are equal distances from the center of the disk face, the first end of the fifth passage (41) is adjacent to the center of the disk face (47) and wherein the first groove (51) extends from the center of the disk face (47) to a distance equal to the distance the second end of the first passage (37) is from the center of the disk face (47), and the second groove is spaced a distance from the center of the circular disk face (47) equal to the distance that the second ends of the second passage (38) and the fourth passage (40) and the first end of the sixth passage (42) are from the center of the circular face (47), and driving means (49) for rotating the disk about the center of the disk face (47), wherein the driving means (49) is mechanically connected to the disk and means for establishing a fluid connection between the second end of the fifth passage (41) and an intake source and between the second end of the sixth passage (42) and an output volume. An apparatus for providing a measured volume of material, including a valve (34) as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a chamber (22); a piston (25) within the chamber (22), forming a first side of the chamber on a first side of the piston and a second side of the chamber on a second side of the piston; a piston rod (24) connected to the piston (25); means (26) for reciprocating the piston rod (24) and piston (25) within the chamber (22); a first side output tube (30) with a first end and a second end, with the first end of the first side output tube in fluid connection with the first side of the chamber (22); a first side intake tube (29) with a first end and a second end, with the first end of the first side intake tube in fluid connection with the first side of the chamber (22); a second side output tube with a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second side output tube (32) in fluid connection with the second side of the chamber; a second side intake tube (31) with a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second side intake tube (31) in fluid connection with the second side of the chamber (22); wherein the second end of the first side output tube (30) is in fluid connection with the first end of the second passage (38), the second end of the first side intake tube (29) is in fluid connection with the first end of the first passage (37), the second end of the second side output tube (32) is in fluid connection with the first end of the fourth passage (40), the second end of the second side intake tube (31) is in fluid connection with the first end of the third passage (39). An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a disk housing (45) adjacent to the disk 46); and means (56, 57) for providing pressure between the disk housing (45) and the disk (46) to force the disk (46) against the passage housing (35). A method of dispensing measured volumes of material, comprising the steps of: rotating a disk having a face adjacent to a passage housing and having first and second grooves on said disk face, in a valve in a first direction, creating a passage between a second end of a first passage and a first end of a fifth passage and creating a passage between a second end of a fourth passage and a first end of a sixth passage, while sealing a second end of a second passage, and a second end of a third passage; the second ends of the first passage, the second passage, the third passage and the fourth passage and the first ends of the fifth passage and the sixth passage terminating on a face of a passage housing and adjacent to the face of the disk, each of the first and second grooves of the disk being able to cover simultaneously and establish fluid communication between different pairs of passage ends at different rotating positions of the disk, moving a piston in a chamber in a second direction, so that a volume on the first side of the piston to increase and a volume on the second side of the piston to decrease, wherein the piston pulls material into the volume on the first side of the piston from a first side intake tube in fluid connection between the volume on the first side of the piston and a first end of the first passage, and wherein the piston pushes material out of the volume on the second side of the piston through a second side output tube in fluid connection between the volume on the second side of the piston and a first end of the fourth passage; rotating a disk in a valve in a direction opposite the first direction, creating a passage between a second end of a third passage and a first end of a fifth passage, and creating a passage between a second end of a second passage and a first end of a sixth passage while sealing a second end of a first passage, and a second end of a fourth passage; and moving a piston in a chamber in a direction opposite the second direction, so that a volume on the second side of the piston to increase and a volume on the first side of the piston to decrease, wherein the piston pulls material into the volume on the second side of the piston from a second side intake tube in fluid connection between the volume on the second side of the piston and a first end of the third passage, and wherein the piston pushes material out of the volume on the first side of the piston through a first side output tube in fluid connection between the volume on the first side of the piston and a first end of the second passage, and establishing a fluid connection between the second end of the fifth passage and an intake source, and between the second end of the sixth passage and an output volume. A method, as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of applying a disk pressure to a side of the disk to press the disk against a passage housing through which the first passage, second passage, third passage, fourth passage, fifth passage and sixth passage pass. A method, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: reducing the disk pressure; applying steam pressure to the fifth passage; passing steam pressure from the fifth passage to the disk; passing the steam through the first, second, third, and fourth passages; passing the steam through the chamber, around the piston and piston rod; and passing the steam through the sixth passage.

Inventors: ABBOTT JAMES BERNARD, VOKINS IAN MICHAEL, ABBOTT, JAMES BERNARD, VOKINS, IAN MICHAEL
Applicants: FMC CORP, FMC CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65B3
IPC codes: B65B3, F16K11